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Trial Date for Askins and Webb Delayed Again

April 21, 2014

by:

Dwayne Page

The trial date for former UCDD officials Wendy Askins and Larry Webb has been delayed again in U.S. District Court.

The new trial date is July 15.

Attorneys for Askins filed the motion seeking the delay because they are scheduled to be involved in another federal court jury trial on June 3, the date when the trial of Askins and Webb was supposed to begin.

WJLE has obtained a copy of the motion filed by Askins' attorney Peter J. Strianse and the law firm of Tune, Entrekin & White, PLLC which states that "counsel is scheduled to begin the trial of United States of America versus L. Brian Whitfield (The Sommet Group Case) before U.S. District Judge Todd Campbell and a jury on June 3, 2014. Obviously, the setting of the Whitfield case conflicts with the current setting of the Askins case. The Whitfield case was indicted on March 1, 2012, is older than the Askins case, and has a huge volume of discovery. Additionally, counsel has significant jury trials set on March 24 and April 29, 2014 which appear very likely to be tried".

The motion goes on to state that "On March 12, 2014, counsel for co-defendant Larry G. Webb filed a second motion to enlarge time within which to file pretrial motions. In the motion, counsel for Webb represent that they do not object to this continuance request."

"Defendant Askins will supplement this filing with an appropriate, executed Waiver of Speedy Trial," the motion concluded.

U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger has granted the request for a continuance.

The trial was originally scheduled for May 20 but Judge Trauger ruled on January 22 in favor of a motion filed by Askins for a continuance. Askins sought the first delay because her daughter is getting married in May. Webb joined Askins in making the request, which was reset for June 3, 2014